A personal survival system for use in water includes an inflatable chamber (9) and in inflation system (31) operable to inflate the inflatable chamber (9), wherein the inflation system (31) is mounted separately from and remotely from the inflatable chamber (9). Also disclosed are: a survival system for use in water includes an inflatable chamber including an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the inner layer is separate from the outer layer; an inflation control system for use with an in-water survival system, the inflation control system comprises a selectively sealable chamber configured to contain water-triggered automatic inflation device of the survival system; and a personal survival system including an inflatable bladder and a moulded cover constructed from a flexible polymer.